Introducing the new S&S Studio Manager

You have probably heard my name before — Amy Schubert. I was active in the original Fiction Unboxed forums, I attended the World Building Summit in September, and the guys have mentioned me on a couple recent podcasts. I am the person on the other end of help[at]sterlingandstone.net — some of you may have already emailed with me.

I am so excited to come on board Sterling & Stone as the new Studio Manager!

I just adore Johnny, Sean and Dave and they are all three huge inspirations for me. In fact, I’ve been reading Johnny’s blog for years and years and have ‘followed’ him over to his fiction career. I listened to the Self-Publishing Podcast from the beginning have just loved watching all of their work develop in that time.

They are doing an amazing job being leaders in the indie fiction world — writing great fiction, experimenting with marketing and being willing to share it all every week on the Self-Publishing Podcast.

Basically they are awesome.

But, of course, they are not perfect. Their business is growing faster than they can reasonably handle. They are all three trying to write a lot of fiction, plus maintain their podcasts and other non-fiction products and still run their business. Even with all three of them (plus Jacob) there are some skill sets that they still need. And more hours and another set of hands.

So I am here to help keep track of all the loose ends.

Someone needs to come in and streamline workflow now with added personnel. Someone needs to manage tasks for Jacob, Garrett and S&S’s new writer Monica. Someone needs to make sure that the guys see the emails they should see and handle the emails they don’t need to see.

Basically my job is to help all three guys — let’s be honest, mostly Sean — get out of email, away from the minutiae of managing the company and back to doing the creative work that made them writers in the first place.

As Studio Manager so far my biggest project has been handling all the email that comes in — questions, problems, compliments, gratitude. Mostly gratitude, so far, really. I immediately took charge of planning the upcoming Colonists Summit in April, sourcing hotels, giving the guys options, and getting registration ready to open. I’ve also got some other smaller tasks and long term projects, like figuring out what has been dropped by the wayside the last few months and figuring out how to get it done.

Sean, Johnny and Dave (again, mostly Sean) have big ideas about growing Sterling & Stone, and I will be there along the way to make sure new employees know how they fit in, make sure details get taken care of, and help them talk through the options for a new opportunity. In the next few weeks, in fact, I will start putting together a very basic list of guidelines and procedures so we are more than ready for whoever the next hire is.

I could not be more thrilled about this new job. These are all the things that I am innately great at. I’ve never really wanted to build my own empire, but I am an excellent right-hand-of-the-throne. I have years of experience as a customer service supervisor, years of experience copy editing and years of experience running a small online business. I also bring the added bonus of being a big-picture planner, a writer, and a long time fan of all three guys.

I know this won’t surprise you, but they are great guys to work for. I was immediately trusted and made to feel like a full member of the team instead of a trainee of any sort. Sterling & Stone is only going to get better, and I am very proud to be able to help.

Yep! Studio Managering is part-time at the moment (and actually I’d like to keep it that way if possible) …. so the plan is part-time S&S, part-time editing for clients and part-time writing my own stuff 🙂

Congratulations Amy. I could see this position was critical. All of the administrative oversight can suck the soul out of creatives. This is something I did at 16 for my uncle, a genius big picture guy. I saw how taking that burden let his spirit soar and allowed him to make the contributions the world needed. Great news for Sterling and Stone and for all of their followers.

Thanks Cathy! You’re right — this is the kind of thing that most (all) creatives could probably use! You may have noticed how giddy the guys have been the last couple weeks and I flatter myself that it is because of me 🙂

I’m excited that they have you to keep things from becoming too much.
I know S&S will grow even faster with you on board, helping to keep things focused.
I look forward to more posts from you on the S&S blog!

I think it’s absolutely wonderful to know that you’re on the S&S team. You are the perfect fit, already handling a lot of things, and all those smaller tasks is a very big part of the difference between good and great. The guys are doing great on most fronts, but they will benefit sooo much from having you on board.

Congratulations Amy 🙂 it sounds like it’s a real win-win for everyone, especially us as it allows Johnny, Sean and Dave more time to focus on the creative side of things. And all the best with the book launch in March 🙂

Amy!!! Congratulations, I think you are a perfect addition to the completely awesome that is S&S. Be prepared for my occasional emails gushing with praise, enthusiasm and, of course, my persistent need to be hated by Dave.

Congrats Amy! I love that you are on board. What a perfect blend of personalities.

I’m stoked about 2015 – should be an awesome year for us all: the new and better rounded S and S team (I’ve always marveled at what the guys have accomplished on their own) and us admiring True Fans, looking on and taking notes furiously.

“I’ve never really wanted to build my own empire, but I am an excellent right-hand-of-the-throne. ” Love this, Amy! Glad to see things progressing and a great team coming together to make everything happen. Get ‘er done!

Congratulations Amy! I know that you’ll be a perfect fit for this position and will be able to grow into whatever it becomes! You’re an amazing planner, organizer, encourager, accomplish-er, list-maker, communicator, and creative on top of all that. I can’t wait to see how you find ways to be an asset to these guys and the empire they’re building.

Serialized Fiction

Right-click here to download the MP3 Click here to subscribe via iTunes Sometimes authors struggle with the very elements that bring their stories to life and add action, excitement, and drama. Today, Johnny, Sean, and Dave talk about how to write compelling and honest dialogue, fight scenes, and arguments that won’t leave your characters feeling […]